asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the results of the inquiry into flour and bread prices; and what increase, if any, will take place in the price of bread.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Bread and Flour Prices.
103.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that the report of the Flour and Bread Prices Advisory Body was published on 10th March, 1967 and that I announced simultaneously that I had accepted the conclusions and recommendations of the report; these were:
(a) that millers' prices for flour and wheatenmeal should be increased by 11s 3d per sack of 280 lbs in the case of bakers' flour, 8s 8d per sack of 280 lbs in the case of shop flour, 9s 10d per sack of 280 lbs in the case of bakers' wheatenmeal, and 7s 8d per sack of 280 lbs in the case of shop wheatenmeal,
(b) that bread prices should be increased by 2d per two-lb loaf (with corresponding increases for other bread units), and
(c) that after 12 months, bread prices should be reduced by 1/2d per two-lb loaf, if bakers' costs by then had not altered materially.
Could the Minister tell us why there was a delay and why this question was not dealt with last August or September when they made the application? Further, is the Minister aware that the millers' representative has said that bread prices will be increased by the next harvest after the crop of Irish wheat is taken into the mills? Instead of there being a reduction, as you anticipate, there will be a further increase next autumn.
I do not think the Minister for Industry and Commerce is responsible for what the millers say.
Could you tell us the reason for the delay in dealing with their application? The application was made last July or August.
The millers' application?
For an increase. They informed the Department last July or August. But the Government did not make it public that this demand for an increase was in until the day the votes were being counted in the Waterford and Kerry by-elections. They kept it quiet until that day and then the announcement appeared that the millers had in their application since July or August. That was pure coincidence, my eye.
I am not so aware. I do not accept that. The question of an increase in the price of bread is a serious matter and one that has to be looked into very carefully. The mere fact that the millers look for an increase does not mean that the Government should automatically publicise that fact. It is up to the Government to ensure that there is some basis for the application before the application is publicised.
Could they not find out if there was any basis last July or August without waiting until the two by-elections were over?
Where it concerns the price of bread, it is important that the merits of the application should first be established to see if there is a prima facie case.
There must have been when it has gone up by 2d.
104.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce why he sanctioned an increase of 2d in the price of the loaf; and if there will be further increases next autumn, if there is a good harvest of Irish wheat.
The increase of 2d in the retail price of a two-lb. loaf was authorised in acceptance of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the recently published Report of the Flour and Bread Prices Advisory Body on their enquiry into Flour and Bread Prices.
What the position will be next autumn I cannot now predict.
105.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, having regard to the considerable extra burden on the cost of living which the proposed increases in the price of bread and flour will impose on families and persons with small incomes, he will take steps to subsidise with grants from the Exchequer the cost of bread and flour.
I have no plans to subsidise the prices of bread and flour.
Could the Minister explain why the Taoiseach and all his colleagues on the Front Bench of the Government have run away, leaving him alone to justify to the Irish people this cruel and near unbearable burden——
That is a separate question.
——which will mean anything from 5/- to 15/- weekly on the cost of living——
The Deputy will resume his seat.
——to every workingclass family?
That has nothing whatever to do with the question the Deputy was endeavouring to ask.
He is only trying to imitate Deputy Harte.
If you had heard me finish the question, Sir. I asked him to explain why it was that the Government are not here to support him in giving some help by way of subsidy to the workingclass family.
The Deputy will resume his seat. The question is related to subsidy and the Deputy's supplementary has nothing whatever to do with the question.
The question deals with the subsidy——
The Deputy will either resume his seat or leave the House. Deputy L'Estrange will also resume his seat.
You cannot rule me out of order, Sir, until I ask a supplementary question and you see whether it is in order or not.
All the supplementaries I am going to allow have been asked on this question.
This question deals with the burden of the cost of living. I am asking——
I am not going to have my ruling questioned in this fashion.
I propose to challenge this ruling in a motion of censure on you, Sir, on this question of the Chair showing an improper anxiety to call on Members to leave the House when asking relevant supplementaries. It simply is not good enough.
My Office will help the Deputy to draft the motion.
That is a facetious and contemptuous remark.
What is wrong with my asking a supplementary?
I respectfully draw your official attention, Sir, to the statement made by Deputy Ryan that you, Sir, have made a contemptuous remark.
I understand all that.
It is a remark contemptuous of the right of Members of this House to ask supplementary questions and I repeat it.
I know the compassion you people over there have.
The country is rife with corruption at present.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Chair bring the Minister to order?
Tammany Hall methods are rife in this country at present.
You were a decent fellow one time.
If you want to throw mud.